Loading summary
A
Introducing Family freedom from T Mobile. We'll pay off four phones up to $3200 and give you four free phones, all on America's largest 5G network. Visit t mobile.com familyfreedom up to $800 per line via virtual prepaid card typically takes 15 days. Free phone via 24 monthly bill credits with finance agreement. Example Apple iPhone 16, 128 gigs $829.99 eligible trade in. Example iPhone 11 Pro for well qualified credits end and balance due. If you pay off early or cancel contact us. That right there was a Russian missile directly hitting a residential block in Ukraine's turnipil area in the morning, killing 25 Ukrainians, including three children. Russia continues to escalate its strikes on Ukraine, killing innocent Ukrainians. But you see, the Trump regime is complicit. The Trump regime knows exactly what's going on. President Zelensky smoked out the secret negotiations and discussions taking place between the Trump regime, Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, and a special envoy for Russia who's been spending time in the United States by the name of Kirill Dmitriev, who also runs Russia's sovereign wealth fund. In other words, Dmitriev's got the mullah, he's got Russian money, and he's having conversations with the Trump regime. So you likely know what that means. And now Donald Trump parroting the Russian propaganda and Putin's demands that Ukraine essentially surrender and give up all of its land to Putin. Let me just explain to you what was going down as well. There was a critical meeting that took place yesterday in Istanbul, Turkey. It was supposed to be a trilateral meeting between the leader of Turkey, Erdogan, President Zelensky of Ukraine did show up. And Witkoff, the special envoy of the United States, who has no foreign policy experience, but he was real estate buddy, corrupt dude Donald Trump sent him, who's been sending him to do those trips to Russia. He was supposed to be in Istanbul. Wyckoff did not show up because right before this trip to Turkey, this meeting between Erdogan, Zelensky and Wykoff was set to take place. Zelenskyy found out about these secret discussions and negotiations taking place between the Trump regime and the Russians, particularly with Dmitriev, and that at this meeting in Turkey, the Trump regime was going to hoist upon Ukraine a series of demands to immediately surrender basically all of the land in Ukraine that Ukraine was never going to do. So Ukraine said, look, we have our plan for peace that we've worked up with our European friends, with France, Spain, Germany, with Others in the region, Canada, Australia also, but mostly with their European allies. And so Zelensky shows up ready to present this plan. So Witkoff is like, oh, crap, I was going to force this surrender upon you, but you're showing up with the European crew. So Witkoff and Trump say US is not showing up in Istanbul because the US Wanted to force the surrender based on their secret negotiations taking place with Russia in the United States with Dmitriev. And so cough doesn't show. So it ends up just being Zelinsky and Erdogan. Let me go over more specifics here, but what happens yesterday as well is that we learn that Keith Kellogg, the special envoy to Ukraine, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, remember that guy? He's either been forced out, basically fired or told to quit or on his own. He's resigning at the end of this year. He's done, he's gone. And remember, he was the guy who first promised along with Trump that there would be peace in Ukraine in 24 hours. Then you'll recall in January he was on Fox and he said, well, you know, it may actually take months. Then he was on in or I think in January he said 100 days. Then in February months. Then in March he said it would take 24 hours, but we didn't say what 24 hours and maybe in the future. Then in May, he talked about the importance of imposing sanctions on Russia. In September, he said that he had told Trump that Ukraine was winning. Then we haven't heard from this guy and now we know with all of the stuff I'm telling you that's going on, he's either quit or he's been forced to resign or pushed out of the regime. And if you've been watching the Midas Touch network, back in January, I predicted exactly that. I said, kel, go back to the podcast. I was going to, I was doing that. I said, Kellogg's a goner. Just a matter of when. Maybe he doesn't know it, but I see this guy and he is done. Just go through the facts again, you're not really hearing this reported anywhere else. I think it's important. We're very methodical and accurate on the reporting. Hat tip to the Financial Times, who folks who first broke this part of the story. So according to the Financial Times, Ukrainian officials say that there was a capitulation style plan that Witkoff and Trump worked out with Dmitriev and Putin and this was going to be forced, forced upon Zelensky. In Istanbul, Trump's special envoy, Witkoff, canceled the meeting with Zelensky in Turkey after realizing that Zelensky did not want to discuss this capitulation plan. Sources then say Zelensky arrived with his own proposal coordinated with Europe and insisted on talks in a broader format. Trump and Witkoff said, we got to cancel this meeting because they wanted to force the surrender on Zelensky. And then a you, an unnamed US Official was telling the press, now we'll wait. The ball is in Zelensky's court. They say the ball is in Zelensky's court. You know what happens, what I showed you at the beginning, boom. All of a sudden Russia is able to send these missiles, drones, killing dozens of innocent Ukrainians. One of the questions I have is, did the United States not share certain intelligence? They withhold certain things. We know that's a pressure technique that Donald Trump uses, allowing innocent Ukrainians to die. So I'm just throwing it out there. This unnamed US Official adds that Zelensky could come to the could come to Washington to discuss the new US Plan if he wishes. So what is this plan? The 28 point plan calls for Russia to gain full de facto control over Donbas in Eastern Ukraine, which includes both the Luhansk and Donetsk and would be recognized by the US and other countries along with Crimea, as lawfully part of the Russian Federation. A Ukrainian official claimed the plan also included limitations on the size of the armed forces of Ukraine, limitations on the arsenal of long range weapons, limitations on security guarantees, basically telling Ukraine, your army can grow, you can't have weapons. You are at the whims of Russia at this point. It was a horrible, horrible deal. It was total surrender and Zelensky said no way he was going to do it. Here's what Zelensky said about just peace for Ukraine before the meeting. But behind the scenes, Zelensky and his European allies got the intelligence that the US Was working with Putin and Dmitriev to try to sneak attack Zelensky and Istanbul and threaten surrender. So then Zelensky responded with, here's the European Zelensky plan. And then Witkoff backed off. And then you have Keith Kellogg resigning or quitting. Do you see? Do you see what's going on here? Here's what Zelenskyy says. Play this clip.
B
Thank you for the question. Tomorrow I have a meeting with President Erdogan. First and foremost, we will have a detailed conversation with him about all possible ways and approaches to ensure that Ukraine is able to achieve a just and lasting peace, carefully considering every option to support a fair resolution. And I think it will be quite a substantive conversation. Maybe a long one, or maybe not very long. We'll see. I have a good relationship with the President of Turkey. We will talk, and we have some positions and signals from the United States. Well, we'll see tomorrow. Thank you.
C
You ever have that moment where you fall in love with something online? A couch, a jacket, lamp, and then you see the price tag and immediately feel personally attacked? Yeah, that's where dupe.com basically saved me. I tried to buy a nice lamp that was way too expensive and dupe.com found me the exact same look for a fraction of the cost. It honestly saved me a ton of money. I'm obsessed with dupe because it fixes that sticker shock moment instantly. Have you ever found the perfect couch or lamp online? Then that sticker shock reminds you it's out of reach for your budget. That's why I use dupe because it's simple. You just type dupe.com before any product URL and dupe instantly shows you similar and more affordable alternatives. It's perfect for finding the best deals on your holiday shopping. And these aren't sketchy knockoffs. The truth is, most products you see online, from furniture to fashion to gadgets, are mass produced in the same factories. Brands just slap on different labels and markups. Dupe surfaces those same pieces for way less so that you're not overpaying just for a name. That $5,000 sofa, $1,200 designer handbag, or 800 dol dollar statement, a light fixture you've been eyeing? Dupe finds them or something nearly identical for a fraction of the price. It's no wonder dupe has gone viral on TikTok millions already. Use it to save thousands, sometimes 60, 70, even 80% off. And it's totally free. This holiday season, Dupe is giving away 1 million dupe points and you can turn those points straight into gift cards. You earn dupe points just by shopping with dupe. No payment, no catch and want even more. Share dupe with friends. They save, you earn. Everybody wins. And here's the kicker. For a limited time, the first 10,000 people go to dupe.com Midas will get 500 dupe points instantly redeemable for gift cards. No catch. But spots are limited, so do not wait. That's dupe.com midas for 500 free dupe points today, use your points and gift cards to make the most of your holiday shopping. Go to dupe.com/midas me I d A.
A
S so then we learned that Trump's special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told associates he plans to leave the administration in January. Four sources told Reuters. A departure that would mean the loss of a key advocate of Ukraine in the Trump regime. It's probably the only remaining person in the Trump regime that actually supports Ukraine. More on Kellogg in a second. So you recall my reporting yesterday about the importance of the meeting between Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron in France, in Paris, where There was a 10 year defense and security pact negotiated between France and Zelensky, between Macron and Zelenskyy. And then separately there was the important meeting that took place between the leaders of Spain and Zelensky. So you had that taking place. And go back to my reporting also, because you have Sweden going to Canada to sell fighter jets there and basically no one wants to buy American military equipment because everyone realizes America's completely compromised at this point point by Putin and by Russia. Want to share this with you as well. So here's the photo. Back on October 26, 2025, when Kirill Dimitriev arrived, he was meeting with MAGA Republican Congress members like Anna Paulina Luna, you see right there, and he handed her a book titled Great Words of a Great Man. And it is a book involving Vladimir Putin. Here is Putin's special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, when he arrived in the US in late October. And he claimed he was here to, you know, speak with MAGA Republican Congress members and the Trump regime. And now we know what they were doing. Specifically, they were plotting the Ukrainian surrender together, which Zelensky found out was happening. Here's what Kirill Dmitriev said about speaking with the Trump regime. Play this clip.
D
I'm currently in the United States at the invitation of US President. This event was planned long ago.
A
And here's another clip of Dmitriev right here so you can hear him for yourself.
D
Sadly, it is Ukraine that is undermining the necessary dialogue. And it's doing so at the request of British and European actors who want the conflict to continue. The situation in the British economy, the European economy is very unfavorable and it's important for them to create an image of Russia as an enemy. So we will continue our dialogue with the United States clearly as stating Russia's position, which is that Russia's national interests must be respected, that sanctions and unfriendly measures will have no impact on the Russian economy. It will only lead to growing prices at United States gas stations because the prices are already going up.
A
Okay, now going back to Special Envoy Keith Kellogg, I want to share this timeline with you right now. First clip I want to show you. Let's build this timeline together. Okay? This is January 12th of 2025. Kellogg says there will be peace in Ukraine in 100 days. Play this clip.
E
What we're doing, we'll set the conditions for the president and then he'll eventually get to a position where he'll be talking to President Putin and also Prime Minister, President Zelensky as well. And I think they're going to come to a solvable solution in the near term. And when I say by the near term, you know, I would like to set a goal on a personal level and professional level. I would say let's set it at 100 days and move our way back and figure a way we can do this in the. In the near term to make sure that this solution is solid, it's sustainable, and that this war ends to and so that we stop the carnage. I think that's going to be very important to do. It's going to be important for our national security. It's a part of our vital natural interest. And it's also good for Europe as well, and the globe as well as well.
A
The next one is February 1st. He says that it's going to happen in months. Play this clip.
E
But you've been around the block, General. I mean, do you think this is months?
D
What do you think this is?
E
You know, I would like to say it's months, but it's not years I'm talking about. You know, I'd like to think that we could have something in the short term. What I mean by the short term. I've said this before on one of your programs, on one of the Fox programs. I'd like to see it get countdown from 100 days back and figure out where we're at, either ceasefire or permanent peace. And I think it's all in the art of the doable. But this is not going to be sort of like we saw in Afghanistan, which is four years. It's not a cottage industry. It's got to be something short term for both nation, not only just for both nations. It's good for the United States, it's good for the world as well. If we can stop this fight, stop the killing which has been horrific, and stop the destruction of the Ukrainian cities.
A
The next clip I'm going to show you is from March on March 7th of 2025. Kellogg says that, yes, Trump did mean 24 hours, that there'll be peace in 24 hours in Ukraine, but Trump just didn't say which 24 hours. It was going to be maybe it's years from now, 24 hours, but eventually 24 hours from some period of time, there will be peace. Just think about that. Like what a ridiculous thing to say here. Play this clip.
E
But remember what President Trump said. He actually talked about the potential of getting territory back from the Russians. He said that.
D
That's a public comment from him.
E
So which territory?
F
Pardon?
E
Can you say? He didn't say. It's almost like, you know, it's, remember the president said he was going to end the war in 24 hours. We didn't say what day.
A
And then Kellogg, May 13th of this year talks about imposing sanctions on Russia and how there's going to be these serious sanctions, which, you know, they all talk, they all talk a tough game, but Russia's not been impacted at all by anything that Trump's done here. Play this clip.
F
I just talked to Lindsey, Senator Graham, Lindsey Graham, just yesterday. And you know, the United States has got the Russian sanctions act of 2025 really set to go, and he's got well over 70 centers that have signed up for it. And they could be significant sanctions. And we're talking primarily about their central bank or sanctions on what we call the dark fleet or the shadow fleet, which carries the majority of their illicit oil overseas. And 70% of that comes out of the Baltics. And you can kind of start going after the shadow fleet and attack the economics of it. And we've alerted President Putin to that. Look, this is getting very serious. These sanctions are very serious. They're harder than we've ever seen before. The Europeans are same way. And you've got people like Chancellor Mertz, the new chancellor of Germany, who's very, very hard on the new sanctions, which coming out, which is good.
A
And then the last time we really heard from him, Keith Kellogg, was Sept. 14, where he speaks at a military conference and he said that he told Donald Trump that Ukraine was winning. And that's really the last time we heard from Keith Kellogg here. Play this clip.
E
It's a great question because I was actually asked this question by the president, President Trump in the Oval Office probably six weeks ago, same question. And I responded quite forcefully. And I finally said, Mr. President, don't just listen to me. Your chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Dan Kaine is outside. He's out in the honorable. Bring him in, ask him that question.
F
He's your senior.
E
He's your principal military advisor. And he did. And Dan said the same thing. They winning? Nope, not winning. So Putin could say he's winning all he wants. I know what he wants to do. I know he's trying to do it. But right now he wants to take all of Donetsk and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as well. But it's a slog for him. And it's the Russia, by the way. So how the Russians fight, I think.
A
It'S an important thing to know how Keith Kellogg has destroyed his reputation. Keith Kellogg, as Alex Plitza, says Kellogg is a serious person. He's a retired Green Beret who commanded Special Operations Command in Europe in the 82nd Airborne Division. He's a Silver Star recipient for actions in Vietnam with five bronze stars, including V for Valor. He also fought in Panama and the Gulf War. Like, he's a serious dude who's now just tarnished everything for the Trump regime. So he's gone. Zelensky outmaneuvered Trump in Turkey, but now we still see Russia killing the innocent Ukrainians. A lot there to unpack. But who else is covering it the way we're covering it on the Midas Touch Network? I mean, this is serious, important stuff that needs to get more attention. But I hope we laid it out here in a way that you understand. Thanks for watching. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million subscribers. Slava Ukraine Hey, Midas Mighty. It's Ben Bretton, Jordy, and we just want to thank you for being the backbone of this movement.
C
This year tested us more than ever. But together we proved that pro democracy voices don't just compete, we win.
A
We took on the entire MAGA machine, won a Webby for Podcast of the.
C
Year, the Midas Touch Podcast.
A
And you were with us every step of the way. And trust us, what we what we're working on next is bigger, bolder, and built for 2026.
C
Let's keep this momentum going. Spread the word. We are just getting started.
A
Shout out to the Midas Mighty.
C
Join Vanguard for a moment of meditation. Take a deep breath.
A
Picture yourself reaching your financial goals.
C
Feel that freedom. Visit vanguard.com investinginu to learn more. All investing is subject to risk.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Date: November 20, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
In this episode, the Meiselas brothers break down a high-stakes diplomatic standoff involving President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump’s team, and Russian operatives. The brothers shed light on discovered secret negotiations intended to force Ukraine’s surrender to Russia, culminating in a dramatic diplomatic checkmate by Zelenskyy. Employing their signature mix of legal acumen, media savvy, and sharp wit, the hosts connect the granular details of the Istanbul meeting, expose backroom Trump-Russia dealings, and discuss the implications for global democracy and American foreign policy.
Ben (Host), [02:11]:
“Zelensky shows up ready to present this plan. Witkoff is like, oh, crap, I was going to force this surrender upon you, but you’re showing up with the European crew... so Witkoff and Trump say US is not showing up in Istanbul.”
Notable Quote:
Zelenskyy (Clip), [08:14]:
“First and foremost, we will have a detailed conversation with [Erdogan] about all possible ways and approaches to ensure that Ukraine is able to achieve a just and lasting peace, carefully considering every option to support a fair resolution… we have some positions and signals from the United States. Well, we’ll see tomorrow.”
Notable Quote:
Kellogg (January 2025), [14:15]:
“I would say let’s set it at 100 days and move our way back and figure a way we can do this in the near term to make sure that this solution is solid, it’s sustainable, and that this war ends… that’s going to be very important to do. It’s going to be important for our national security.”
Notable Quotes:
Dmitriev, [13:00]:
“Sadly, it is Ukraine that is undermining the necessary dialogue… it is doing so at the request of British and European actors who want the conflict to continue.”“We will continue our dialogue with the United States... Russia's national interests must be respected, that sanctions and unfriendly measures will have no impact on the Russian economy. It will only lead to growing prices at United States gas stations…”
Notable Quote:
Ben (Host), [06:47]:
“One of the questions I have is, did the United States not share certain intelligence?… We know that’s a pressure technique that Donald Trump uses, allowing innocent Ukrainians to die.”
Ben (on Zelenskyy's diplomatic jujitsu), [02:54]:
“Zelensky outmaneuvered Trump in Turkey, but now we still see Russia killing the innocent Ukrainians. A lot there to unpack.”
On Kirill Dmitriev’s presence in the US, [11:35]:
“Here is Putin's special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, when he arrived in the US in late October… And now we know what they were doing. Specifically, they were plotting the Ukrainian surrender together, which Zelensky found out was happening.”
On Keith Kellogg’s legacy, [18:46]:
“He’s a serious dude who’s now just tarnished everything for the Trump regime. So he’s gone.”
The episode maintains the MeidasTouch brothers’ signature: rapid-fire delivery, clear attribution, and a mix of urgency, righteous indignation, and humor. Their “unapologetic support for democracy” is front and center, as is their focus on detailed chronological storytelling delivered with punchy commentary.
Slava Ukraine — The fight for democracy continues, and the MeidasMighty remain vigilant.